Vehicle body with separately retractible top and rear window



Ot.25, 1960 w. B. FORD u, ETAL 2,957,725

VEHICLE BODY WITH SEPARATELY RETRACTIBLE TOP AND REAR WINDOW 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 19, 1952 RNVENTORS WALTER B. FORD.111

AUGUST KELLER ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1960 w. B. FORD u, ETAL 2,957,725

VEHICLE BODY WITH SEPARATELY RETRACTIBLE TOP AND REAR wmnow 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 19, 1952 INVENTORS WALTER 5. FORD I1AUGUST KELLER BY W ATTORN YS Oct. 25, 1960 w. 5. FORD n, ETAL 2,957,725

VEHICLE BODY WITH SEPARATELY RETRACTIBLE TOP AND REAR wnmow 6Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 19, 1952 INVENTORS WALTER B. F0 RDHAUGUST KELLER Oct. 25, 1960 w. B. FORD u, ETAL VEHICLE BODY WITHSEPARATELY RETRACTIBLE TOP AND REAR WINDOW 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 OriginalFiled June 19, 1952 INVENTORS WALTER B. FORDII AUGUST KELLER ATTORNEYSOct. 25, 1960 w. B. FORD ll, EI'AI. 2,957,725

VEHICLE BODY WITH SEPARATELY RETRACTIBLE POP AND REAR wmoow 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June vl9, 1952 INVENTORS WALTER B.FORD1IAUGUST KELLER ATTORNEYS Oct. 25, 1960 w. B. FORD u, ETAL 2,957,725

vsuxcu: BODY WITH SEPARATELY RETRACTIBLE TOP AND REAR wmnow OriginalFiled June 19, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS WALTER B. FORD H AUGUSTKELLER W AT/TOR EYS "nited States VEHICLE BODY 'WITH SEPARATELY RETRACT-IBLE TOP AND REAR WINDOW Continuation of application Ser. No. 294,328,June 19, 1952. This application Mar. 16, 1956, Ser. No. 574,059

24 Claims. c1. 296-107) The present invention relates to a vehicleconvertible top, and more particularly to a hard or rigid top adapted tobe moved as a unit longitudinally of the vehicle between a forwardclosed position and a rearward open position, in which latter positionthe top overlies the rear deck of the vehicle. This application i acontinuation of our application Serial No. 294,328, filed June 19, 1952,now abandoned.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hard topconvertible including a rear window structure movable between raised andlowered positions in conjunction wtih a rigid top movable longitudinallyof the vehicle from a forward closed position to a rearward openposition, movement to open position being possible only when the rearwindow structure is in lowered position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hard .topconvertible including rear quarter members adjacent the rear corners ofthe passenger compartment movable between raised and lowered positions,a rear window structure movable between raised and lowered positions,and a rigid or hard top movable as a unit longitudinally of the vehiclefrom a forward closed position to a rearward open position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide movable rearquarter members adjacent the rear corners of the compartment incombination with a longitudinally movable rigid top, and meansinterconnecting said quarter members and top to' effect guiding movementof the top during it intermediate movement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pair oflevers adjacent the rear corners of the passenger compartment, meansmounting the levers for rocking movement between a raised position and alowered position in which the levers are substantially received withinthe body of the vehicle, a rigid top, guide means interconnecting theedges of the top from its forward closed position to an intermediatepartly open position, said means providing a connection between the freeends of said levers and the front edge of said top whereby when saidlevers are swung to lowered position the front edge of said top is swungconsecutively upwardly, rearwardly and downwardly to a position adjacentthe rear edge of the passenger compartment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a vehiclehaving a passenger compartment and a rear deck in conjunction with arigid top movable from a forward closed position to a rearward openposition in which the rear end of said top is movable along the uppersurface of said rear deck.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in a vehicleof the character described, a pair of hinged levers adjacent the rearcorners of the passenger compartment, a rear window structure movablebetween raised and lowered positions, means mounting the top structurefor such movement comprising a trackway including track sections carriedby said levers and addiatent r rCi tional track sections fixedly mountedwithin the body of the vehicle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in structureof the character described in the preceding paragraph, roller means onthe window structure including at least three rollers at each side ofthe window structure to provide adequate support for the windowstructure as some of said rollers cross the gap between said tracksections.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in aconvertible vehicle having a passenger compartment provided with frontand rear seats, a rigid top movable from a forward closed position inwhich its forward edge is adjacent the wind-shield of the vehicle to arear open position in which its forward edge is adjacent the rear edgeof the passenger compartment, in conjunction with means providing forforward movement of said top from its rear open position to a positionin which the front edge of said top i adjacent the rear top edge of thefront seat of the vehicle to thereby provide a top closure for theportion of the passenger compartment rearward of the front seat thereof.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a vehicle embodying thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the vehicle.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the vehicle.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged rear elevational view illustratingthe manner of mounting the rear window structure.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the rear windowstructure moved to lowered position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the vehicle showing therigid top moved rearward to an intermediate position.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the vehicle showing the topin an intermediate position with its forward edge in process of beingswung rearwardly to full open position.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation .of the vehicle showing the topin its rearmost fully open position.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the top moved forwardlyfrom its fully open position to an intermediate position in which it isadapted to cover the space of the passenger compartment rearward of thefront seat thereof. I

Figure 10 is an enlarged side elevational view showing the rear windowsection and the support means therefor.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the rearwindow structure in a partly lowered position.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing the top inits fully lowered position.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 1313, Figure 1.

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 1414,'Figure 1.

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 15-15,Figure 10.

Figure 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 1616,Figure 10.

Figure 17 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 1717, Figure 3.

Figure 18 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 18-18, Figure 8.

Figure 19 is a sectional detail of the track taken on the line 19-19 ofFigure 6.

Referring now to the drawings, the invention relates to a vehicle hereinillustrated as comprising a body 10 provided with a door 12, awindshield 14 including a top windshield header bar 16, a movable wing18, a vertically movable window 20, and a quarter window 22 movablebetween raised and lowered positions and--mounted for swinging movementbetween such positions. The body of the vehicle is provided with apassenger compartment and extending rearwardly from the passengercompartment is a rear deck 26.

As is conventional in automotive vehicles of the character described,the windshield is rigidly supported in a frame including the top headerbar, and closure means including the wing 18 and windows 20 and 22extend upwardly above the sides of the passenger compartment andrearwardly from the windshield. To provide a completely enclosedpassenger compartment the structure in cludes a top 28, a rear windowstructure 30, and rear quarter panel structure 32 which also serves aslevers as will subsequently be described.

In general terms, the enclosed vehicle as illustrated in Figure 1 isconverted to the open vehicle illustrated in Figure 8 by movement of thewindow structure 3t to a position within the body of the vehicle,rearward sliding movement of the top 28, and swinging movement of therear quarter panels 32 to concealed position within the vehicle.Swinging movement of the rear quarter panels or levers 32 to closedposition takes place at a time when the front edge of the top 28 ispivotally connected to the front or forward end of the levers 32 andaccordingly the front edge of the rigid top completes its movement tofull open position by movement through an are as determined by the pivotaxis of the levers 32.

In the closed position illustrated in Figure 1 the rigid top 28 isconnected to and sealed with the top header bar 16 of the windshield 14by suitable means such for example as those illustrated in VotypkaPatent 2,580,336. In order to move the top from its forward position toits rearward position it is necessary first to move the rear windowstructure 30 to lowered position to get it out of the way of the top.This is accomplished, as best illustrated in Figures 1, 4, 10, ll, 12,and 16, by mounting the rear window structure in trackways provided atopposite sides of the vehicle. Specifically, these trackways comprisetrack sections 34 provided on the levers 32 and movable therewith.Within the body of the ve hicle there are provided additional tracksections 36 which are in alignment with the track sections 34 when thelevers 32 are in raised position. In order to provide for movement ofthe levers 32 from raised to lowered position, it is necessary for theadjacent ends of the track sections 34 and 36 to be substantially spacedas well illustrated in Figures 10-12. This in turn calls for theprovision of three pairs of rollers 38, 40 and 42 on the rear windowstructure 30 so that the rear window structure may be adequatelysupported while one of the rollers 38, 40 or 42 is bridging the gapbetween the track sections 34 and 36. The track section 36 includes amain portion 44 and a short branch portion 46 for a purpose which willnow be described.

It will be appreciated that when the rear window structure is moveddownwardly to the right as seen in Figure 10 toward the positionillustrated -in Figure 11, the roller 42 will pass out of the tracksection 34. During this interval the rear window structure 30 isadequately supported by the rollers 38-and 40 which remain in the tracksection 34. The rollers 42 then enter the track section 36 and therollers 38 and 42 provide adequate support for the rear window sectionwhile the rollers 40 are intermediate the track sections. Finally, theintermediate roller 40 is caused to enter the'short branch portion asthe roller 42 follows the main track portion 44. Whenthe upper roller 38is intermediate the track sections the rear windowstructure 30 isadequately supported by the rollers 40 and 42 as is evident from aninspection of Figure 11. In its fully lowered position, as illustratedin Figure 12, the rear Window structure 30 is supported by its rollers42 and 38. Upon movement of the window structure 30 from the openposition illustrated in Figure 12 to the closed position illustrated inFigure 10, the action of the rollers and track sections is of coursereversed, It will be appreciated that with the window in its loweredposition, as illustrated in Figure 12, it is entirely out of engagementwith the lever 32 whereby the lever may be swung from the raisedposition illustrated in Figures l0-l2 to its lowered positionillustrated in Figure 8.

As is apparent from an inspection of Figures 10-12 the body of thevehicle is constructed to provide a space intermediate the back of therear seat 47 and the front edge 48 of the rear deck 26. The movement ofthe rear window structure 30 from the closed position illustrated inFigure l0 to the open position illustrated in Figure 12 is limited bythe presence of the wheel housing 49. Accordingly, the track section 36is located within the body of the vehicle in a position determined inpart by the wheel housing 49 and is so constructed and arranged toprovide for movement of the rear window structure 30 to the fully openposition shown in Figure 12 without interference with either the rearseat 47 or the rear deck 26 of the vehicle.

It will of course be understood that the rear window structure istransversely curved and that its edge portions are located outwardlyfrom the top corners of the rear seat. The locations of the rear windowstructure in relation to the rear seat in successive lowered positionsis clearly shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12. It will further be understoodthat when the rear window structure is housed beneath the rear deck, asshown in Figure 12, it does not take up any appreciable useful spacewithin the luggage compartment located under the rear deck.

As best illustrated in Figure 2, it is desirable for the rear windowstructure to have an upward and inward taper. This calls for a specialconstruction, best illustrated in Figures 4, l5 and 16. In order toaccomplish this, and at the same time permit movement of the rear windowstructure along parallel trackways, the rear window structure comprisesthe window glass 50 mounted in a frame 52, the frame including outwardlyextending Web portions 54 and terminating in a doubled flange 56 whichoccupies a vertical plane parallel to the track sections 34. Inasmuch asthe window is narrower at its top than at its bottom the width of theweb 54 varies as illustrated in Figure 4 and as Well illustrated inFigures 15 and 16. By virtue of this construction the rear window whichis wider at its bottom than at its top is provided with rollers 38, 40and 42 all of which occupy a vertical plane and are therefore movablealong rectilinear trackways 34.

When the rear window structure 30 has been moved to its lowered positionillustrated in Figure 12, it is then possible to move the top 28rearwardly. This is accomplished by releasing the latch means (notshown) which serves to connect the front of the top to the windshieldheader bar, and thereafter the top moves rearwardly as a unit. In orderto guide and support the top during this rearward movement, means areprovided at the edges of the top and on the levers 32. This means isbest illustrated in Figures 1, l3 and 14. As seen in these figures, thelevers 32 include forwardly extending arms 58 which are secured to fixedpivots 60 located within the body of the vehicle. The arms 58 includelaterally enlarged rear quarter portions adapted to close the spacebetween the quarter windows 22 and the rear window structure 30. Thelevers 32 extend forwardly to approximately the junction above theforward edge of the window 22 and a rear edge of the window 20 and arethere provided with a pair of rollers 62. Adjacent the rear end of thetop edge 64- of the levers 32'there are provided rollers 66. The rigidtop 28 as best illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, is provided with anenclosed track 68 having a slot 70 at its bottom through which portionsof the lever 32 may extend. The track 68 includes lateral portions 72and 74 which receive and interlock with the rollers 62 and 66. As aresult of this construction the top struc ture 28 is adequatelysupported by the widely spaced rollers 62 and 66 during its rearwardmovement and while its forward edge is unsupported. The edges of the top28 and the tracks 68 are curved as best illustrated in Figure l, andcooperate with the rollers 62 and 66 such that the top moves rearwardlyin guided relation on the top edges 64 of the levers 32 in an arcuatepath. Continued rearward movement of the top 28 eventually brings theparts to the position illustrated in Figure 6, at which time it will beobserved that the front edge of the top 28 is adjacent the forwardroller 62 on the lever 32 and the rear edge of the top 28 engages therear deck of the vehicle. Specifically, the rear deck of the vehicle isprovided with trackways 76 and adjacent the rear corners of the top 28there are provided rollers 78 which may be formed of a soft materialdesigned to cooperate with the trackways 76. In Figure 6 the parts areillustrated in the position in which the rollers 78 have just engagedthe trackway 76.

The enclosed tracks 68 at the edges of the top are provided with gates(Figure 19) formed by omitting short portions of the bottom flanges 80and 82 of the track 68. With the parts in the position illustrated inFigure 6, the levers 32 are swung in clockwise direction and the rollers66 escape from the tracks 68. The forward rollers 62 move in an arc, aportion of which is illustrated at 84 in Figure 7. At this time theroller 62 serves as a pivot connection between the forward edge of thetop 28 and the lever arm 32. Swinging movement of the lever arm 32results sequentially in upward, rearward,and then downward swingingmovement of the roller 62, thus moving the forward edge of the top 28along the arc 84. This guided movement of the forward edge of the top 28is accompanied by rearward movement of the rear end of the top 28 androlling movement of the rollers 78 along the trackways 76. Eventually,swinging movement of the levers 32 is terminated with the levers in theposition illustrated in Figure 8. At this time it will be observed thatthe rollers 62 are in such position that the forward edge of the top 28is substantially at the rear edge of the passenger compartment and therear edge of the top 28 is adjacent the rear of the deck of the vehicle.

The top 28 is latched in position by a mechanism illustrated in Figure17 which is provided on the rear deck of the vehicle. The-latchmechanism includes a latch housing 86 having a finger opening 88 thereinand carrying a latching dog-90 which is pivoted on a pin 92. The rearend of the top 28 is provided with a plate 94 defining a housing 96, theplate 94 being reversely turned asindicated .at 98, to cooperate withthe hooked nose 100 of the latch lever 90. The latch lever 90 willnormally be biased toward latching position by a spring (not shown). Alatch release lever 102-is provided in the housing 86 and is pivoted ona pin 104. The latch release lever includes an elongated slot 106 whichreceives a pin 108 carried at the end of the latch lever 90, and thelatch release lever 102 also includes a finger portion 110 which theoperator may press to release the latch lever 90. It will be observedthat the latch lever 90includes a camming surface 112 which cooperateswith a correspondinglyinclined camming surface 114 at the rear edge ofthe top 28 so that the top automatically latches as it is moved intoegnagement with the latch lever 90. a

It will be appreciated that in order to enclose the passengercompartment a reverse of the preceding operation is carried. out. Thus,latch release lever 102 is actuated, levers 32 are swung in acounterclockwise direction, thus moving the top forwardly to a positionin which the levers 32 are as illustrated in Figure 6. It will beappreciated that as the top moves into the position illusq ,trated inFigure 6, the roller 66 enters the gate on the track 68. Thereafter, thetop may he slid forwardly and will be guided and supported by therollers 62 and 66 until the front of the top engages the windshieldheader bar to which it may be latched as previously suggested.Thereafter, the rear window structure 30 is swung upwardly to itsoperative raised position illustrated in Figure 1.

The pivot supports 60 for the arms 58 of the levers 32 are locatedinwardly of the rear quarter windows 22 so that the windows 22 may beraised or lowered with the arms 58 in raised or lowered position.

The foregoing description makes no reference to means for moving theparts and as thus far described it will be appreciated that the rearwindow structure, the lever arms, and the top may be moved manually asdescribed above. However, it is also possible to effect sequential poweractuation of the parts as will be readily understood.

Referring now to Figure 9 there is illustrated a further feature of thepresent invention. Figure 9 should be compared with Figure 8, in whichlatter figure the top 28 is shown as in its rearmost fully openposition. In Figure 9 the passenger compartment of the vehicle is shownas being provided with a front seat and a rear seat 47. In some cases itmay be desirable for the top 28 to be moved to a position in which itoverlies and encloses the rear portion of the passenger compartment.This is readily accomplished in the present case by moving the arms 32to a position in which the roller 62 is in such position that forwardmovement of the top 28 will bring the forward edges of the top intoproximity with the top rear portion of the front seat 120. Obviously ofcourse, the back of the front seat may be provided with structure shapedto interfit with the front edge of the top 28 and may be provided withlatch means similar to those provided for connecting the front edge ofthe top to the windshield header bar.

During forward movement of the top from the position shown in Figure 8to the alternative position shown in Figure 9, the top is guided bymovement of its roller 78 along the track 76 and by movement of theroller 62 along the trackway 68 provided at the edge of the top 28. Itwill be appreciated that due to the inclination of the sides of thevehicle, the top in the position illustrated in Figure 9, will lieinwardly of the windows 20 and 22 which both therefore may remain in theraised position if desired. Alternatively of course, the window 22 maybe moved to its lowered concealed position within the vehicle.

It will be understood that the present construction requires the movablerigid top to be of a length not greater than the length of the rear deck26 since in the open position the top overlies the rear deck. The actuallength of the rigid 'top is of course determined by the distance betweenthe wind-shield header bar 16 and the forward and upper edge of the rearwindow structure when the latter is in its raised position. Dependingupon the particular body style and design of the vehicle; it may in somecases be desirable to shorten the length of the rigid top by providing awindshield having a header bar located somewhat further to the rear ofthe vehicle than is conventional. Alternately, in some cases the rearwindow structure may be modified to extend further forwardly of thevehicle than has heretofore been conventional. 'In any case, thedistance between the windshield header bar and the upper forward edge ofthe rear window structureshall be such as to require a top having alongitudinal dimension which in its open position will overlie the reardeck of the vehicle and will not extend rearwardly therebeyond.

If desired, suitable shelf means may be provided for spanning the spacebetween the back of the rear seat and the forward edge 48 of the reardeck. This means may be provided as a rearward extension carried by therear seat and shaped to provide clearance for movement of the rearwindow structure as illustrated in Figures 10-12. Alternately, a shelfmay be provided as a pant of the rear window structure and shaped toextend transversely of the vehicle between the lower portions of therear window 7 frame 52. With the rear window structure in the closedposition as illustrated in Figure 10, this shelf would then close thespace between the rear seat 47 and the rear deck 26.

The present invention provides a vehicle having the advantages of arigid or hard top construction which is nevertheless readily convertibleto a fully open vehicle by simple movements of relatively few and simplepants. Moreover, movement of the top between its fully open and fullyclosed position is always adequately supported and adequately guided.Finally, the top in its fully open or fully closed position is firmlylocked in place. The use of the levers 32 for guiding and supporting thefront edge of the top during completion of its movement toward and fromfully open position, while at the sametime effecting proper movement ofthe levers 32 into and out of concealed lowered position contributessubstantially to the success of the present construction.

The drawings and the foregoing specification constitute a description ofthe improved vehicle convertible top in I such full, clear,.concise andexact terms as to enable any person skilled in the auto practice theinvention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A hard top convertible vehicle comprising a body having a passengercompartment and a rear deck extending rearwardly from said passengercompartment, said passenger compartment being enclosed at the front by awindshield having a top header bar, said compartment being selectivelyenclosed at the sides by windows mounted for raising and loweringmovement, said compartment being selectively enclosed at the rear by arear window structure movable between a raised position and a loweredposition in which it is received within said body, said compartmentbeing selectively enclosed at its rear corners by lever devices pivotedwithin said body and having portions shaped to enclose the spacesbetween the side windows and rear window structure, and a rigd topslidable along the top edges of said lever devices between a closedposition in which the front of said top is adjacent the header bar ofsaid windshield and an intermediate position in which the front edge ofsaid top is located at the forward ends of said lever devices and therear end of said top rests on said rear deck, said levers being pivotedto swing the front edge of said top upwardly, rearwardly and downwardlyto a position directly at the rear of said compartment and to causerearward movement of the rear edge of said top on said rear deck.

2. A vehicle as defined in claim 1 in which said rear deck is providedwith trackways at opposite sides thereof and the rear edge of said topis provided with rollers movable along said trackways.

3. A vehicle as defined in claim 1 comprising latch means on said reardeck engageable with means adjacent the rear edge of said top to retainsaid top in position overlying said rear deck.

4. A vehicle as defined in claim 1 in which said rear window structureis mounted for movement in trackways, portions of which are carried bysaid lever devices and portions of which are located in said body.

5. A vehicle as defined in claim 4, said rear window structure beingsupported entirely on the portions of said trackways located in saidbody when said rear window structure is in lowered position.

6. A vehicle as defined in claim 1 in which said lever devices haverollers adjacent the front and rear ends of the top edges thereof, andtrackways adjacent the sides of said top receiving said rollers.

7. A vehicle as defined in claim 6, the trackways at the sides of saidtop having gates providing for engage ment and disengagement between therollers at the rear end of the top edges of said lever devices and saidlast mentioned trackways when the front edge of said top is located atthe front endsof said lever devices and said lever devices are movedinto and out of raised position.

8. In a hard top convertible vehicle, a body having a passengercompartment and a rear deck extending rearwardly from said passengercompartment, a pair of hinged levers located adjacent the rear cornersof said passenger compartment, said levers being mounted for swingingmovement about axes transverse of the vehicle body between a raisedposition and a lowered position in which they are concealed within thebody, said levers in raised position having longitudinally extending topedges, a rigid top, guide means between said top and the top edge ofsaid levers to provide for longitudinal sliding movement of said topalong the top edges of said levers, means operable as pivots afterpredetermined longitudinal movement of said top maintaining pivotalconnection of the top to the front end of said levers to provide insequence upward and rearward and downward movement of the front portionof said top upon movement of said levers to lowered position, and guidemeans on said deck for guiding the rear edge of said top over said deck.

9. A vehicle as defined in claim 8, wherein the last guide meanscomprises trackways on said rear deck, and rollers at the rear cornersof said top movable along said trackways.

10. A vehicle as defined in claim 8, wherein said levers have rollersadjacent the front and rear ends of their top edges, and trackways alongthe sides of said top receiving said rollers.

11. In a hard top convertible vehicle comprising a body having apassenger compartment and a rear deck, a pair of rear quarter memberspivotally mounted for swinging movement between a raised position and alowered position in which said members are substantially within saidbody, said members in raised position having longitudinally extendingtop edges the forward ends of which are substantially spaced rearwardlyfrom the front of the passenger compartment, a rigid top, meansconnecting said top to said members for movement longitudinally alongthe top edges of said members during movement from a closed position ofthe top to a position partially uncovering said passenger compartment,and said means including elements operable after said longitudinalmovement of the top relative to the members providing pivotalconnections between the members and the top during movement thereof to afully open position.

12. Structure as defined in claim 11 in which said top is shaped suchthat its rearedge engages said rear deck when said top is in anintermediate position.

13. A hard top convertible vehicle comprising a body having a passengercompartment and a rear deck, transversely spaced, longitudinallyextending levers pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movementbetween raised and lowered positions, a rigid top, said levers eachhaving a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers thereon, trackways onsaid top receiving said rollers providing a support for the top in theraised position thereof, each trackway having a gate therein providingfor the escape of the rear rollers on said levers so that they may swingto lowered positions while the front rollers on the levers maintainpivotal connections between the levers and the top during swingingmovement of the levers to a lowered position and during lowering of thetop to a position on the rear deck.

14. A hard top convertible vehicle comprising a body having a passengercompartment and a rear deck, levers hinged to said body abouttransversely extending axes located adjacent the rear corners of saidcompartment, said levers being movable between raised and loweredpositions, said levers in raised position having elongated portionswhich extend longitudinally of the vehicle, rollers adjacent the frontand rear ends of said portions, a rigid top having enclosed tracksextending along its sides and receiving said rollers when said leversare in raised position, said top being movable rearwardly of saidvehicle from a closed position in guided relation by virtue of thecoaction between said rollers and tracks to an intermediate position inwhich the front edge of said top is adjacent the rollers provided at thefront ends of the elongated portions of said levers and the rear end ofsaid top is supported on said rear deck, said tracks having gatestherein located at the rollers provided at the rear ends of theelongated portions of said levers when said top is in the aforesaidintermediate position, said gates being operable to release said rollersupon swinging of said levers, said levers being swingable rearwardly anddownwardly to move said top to the rear to fully open position in whichit overlies said rear deck and said levers are substantially housedwithin said body.

15. A vehicle as defined in claim 14 in which the rollers at the frontend of the elongated portions of said levers remain engaged in saidtracks and constitute means for securing the front end of said topagainst movement when said top is in fully open position.

16. A vehicle as defined in claim 15 and latch means on said rear deckfor engaging said top to secure its rear portion against movement whensaid top is in fully open position.

17. In a convertible automobile body having a rigid top, movable sidewindows, movable rear quarter windows and a rear window, rear quartermembers movable independently of said rear quarter windows pivotallyconnected to the body and to the top, means operable during swinging ofsaid members to guide said top during movement from a closed to an openposition, said members having portions engaging the quarter windows andthe rear window when said top is in closed position and bridging thegaps therebetween.

18. In an automobile body according to claim 17, wherein the pivotalconnections between the rear quarter members and the body are spacedfrom the planes of movement of the quarter windows.

19. The combination set forth in claim 17, wherein the pivotalconnections between the rear quarter members and the body are disposedinwardly of the planes of movement of the quarter windows.

20. In combination with a vehicle body having a rigid top, a rear deckto the rear of said top and a movable rear window of laterally curvedshape, rollers on the lateral end portions of said window, a trackadapted to receive said rollers when said window is in its closedposition, a second track disposed beneath said rear deck, and saidtracks being constructed and arranged such that said second track isadapted to receive said rollers upon movement of said window from closedto open position.

21. The combination set forth in claim 20, wherein said first track isinclined to the vertical and said second track has a substantiallyhorizontal portion whereby said window lies substantially horizontalwhen in open position.

22. In a convertible automobile body having a passenger compartmentprovided with front and rear seats, a top mounted on said body andadapted for movement from a raised position covering said passengercompartment to a lowered position in rear of said passenger compartmentand vice versa, said top having a forward portion engageable with awindshield header disposed forwardly of said passenger compartment and arear portion adapted to slideably engage the body rearwardly of thepassenger compartment, an actuating arm pivotally mounted on the bodyintennediate the ends of the passenger compartment and extendingupwardly and forwardly of said passenger compartment when the top is inraised position to a combined slideable and pivotal connection with thetop, means permitting sliding said top along said connection and meanspermitting swinging said arm about its mounting on the body.

23. In a convertible automobile body having a pas senger compartmentprovided with front and rear seats, a top mounted on said body andadapted for movement from a raised position covering said passengercompartment to a lowered position in rear of said passenger compartmentand vice versa, said top having a forward portion engageable with awindshield header disposed forwardly of said passenger compartment and arear portion adapted to slideably engage the body rearwardly of thepassenger compartment, an actuating arm pivotally mounted on the bodyintermediate the ends of the passenger compartment and extendingupwardly of said passenger compartment when the top is in raisedposition and forwardly to a connection with the top, and meanspermitting sliding said top rearwardly on said connection.

24. In a convertible automobile body having a passenger compartmentprovided with front and rear seats, a top mounted on said body andadapted for movement from a raised position covering said passengercompartment to a lowered position in rear of said passenger compartmentand vice versa, said top having a forward portion engageable with aWindshield header disposed forwardly of said passenger compartment and arear portion adapted to slideably engage the body rearwardly of thepassenger compartment, an actuating arm pivotally mounted on the bodyintermediate the ends of the passenger compartment and extendingupwardly of said passenger compartment when the top is in raisedposition and forwardly to a connection with the top, means permittingsliding said top on said connection while said arm is upright and meanspermitting swinging said arm about its pivot on the body thereby toswing the forward portion of said top in an arc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,348,593 Spiegel Aug. 3, 1920 1,940,444 Burgman Dec. 19, 1933 2,575,864Croucher Nov. 20, 1951 2,623,779 ()atell Dec. 30, 1952 2,747,923 McLeanMay 29, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 808,881 France Feb. 17, 1937 420,866 GreatBritain Dec. 10, 1934 448,042 Great Britain May 29, 1936

